Eye on O.C.: A chorus of approval

Huver Miranda of Santa Ana, Marine corporal and former KidSingers member, gives Alice Stauffer of Santa Ana a hug as she is honored during the annual KidSingers fundraiser.STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER

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For more information on upcoming events, visit kidsingers.org or call 714-630-3883.

At the KidSingers' 17th annual benefit dinner and auction in Costa Mesa, alumni of the group left a big impression.

First, alumna Evelina Galvan and founder Paul McNeff gave attendees goose bumps as they sang "The Prayer," a duet made famous by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli, to start dinner.

Then, alumnus Huver Miranda of Santa Ana, now a corporal in the Marine Corps, donated a $5,000 scholarship he received as a youth back to the organization. "KidSingers gave me a place I could go without worrying about home and helped make me the man I am today," he said.

The Wyndham Hotel ballroom was filled with happy bidders and supporters of the program that helps Orange County inner-city youth discover music through singing in a choir.

The evening included a performance by the KidSingers Master Class and presentation of the Crescendo Award to Alice Stauffer of Santa Ana. "Alice has been with us since the beginning; she held our first fundraiser at her house," said McNeff, of Anaheim.

His wife, Beverly McNeff, a co-founder of the group, called Stauffer a "surrogate grandmother to thousands of kids" as she fought back tears, thanking her and her family for their boundless energy.

Auction items such as handmade jewelry, baseballs autographed by Angels players and Lakers floor-level tickets helped raise a quarter of the KidSingers' annual budget of $200,000.

With 124 guests in attendance it was the largest event KidSingers has hosted. The growth seemed apropos. Paul McNeff said they will be adding 30 budding vocalists to the program this year. But for him, "It's not about getting bigger and better, it's about getting better and better."

Huver Miranda of Santa Ana, Marine corporal and former KidSingers member, gives Alice Stauffer of Santa Ana a hug as she is honored during the annual KidSingers fundraiser. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Members of the KidSingers youth chorus perform during the annual KidSingers fundraiser at the Wyndham Hotel in Irvine. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Dinner guests participate in a fundraiser game of heads or tails during the annual KidSingers fundraiser. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Volunteers Emily Zakich, left, and her sister Lauren Zakich, both from Anaheim, help out with the annual KidSingers fundraiser. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
David Stauffer, left, and Robyn Stauffer of Huntington Beach at the annual KidSingers fundraiser at the Wyndham Hotel in Irvine. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Paul McNeff of Anaheim, founder of KidSingers, back left, with Alice Stauffer of Santa Ana, volunteer of honor for the night, and her two grandsons 11-year-old Will Stauffer, left, of Huntington Beach and his cousin 12-year-old Alex Monko of Carlsbad, during the annual KidSingers fundraiser. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Eleven-year-old Will Stauffer of Huntington Beach bids on live auction items during the annual KidSingers fundraiser. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Members of the KidSingers youth chorus perform during the annual KidSingers fundraiser at the Wyndham Hotel in Irvine. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Lorie Kelly of Yorba Linda, benefit chair for KidSingers, left, with Huver Miranda of Santa Ana, Marine corporal and former KidSingers member, and Beverly McNeff of Anaheim, cofounder of KidSingers, at the annual KidSingers fundraiser at the Wyndham Hotel in Irvine. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Members of the KidSingers youth chorus perform during the annual KidSingers fundraiser. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Twelve-year-old Daniel Fishman, left, with his sister Lauren Fishman, 14, and their mother Julie Fishman of Newport Beach as they check out Pageant of the Masters tickets during a silent auction for the annual KidSingers fundraiser. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Members of the KidSingers youth chorus perform during the annual KidSingers fundraiser at the Wyndham Hotel in Irvine. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Lauren Zakich of Anaheim looks over silent auction items during the annual KidSingers fundraiser. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Colleen Kirtland of Yorba Linda, left, with Mary Abbott of La Mirada, Robyn Stauffer of Huntington Beach and her daughter Allison Stauffer, during the annual KidSingers fundraiser. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER

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